It’s that time of year to starting taking your LP adventures to higher elevations. Cooler temps and panoramic views abound….
National Trails Day is June 7th this year, and LPFA has 3 projects going on to celebrate. This day is about getting outside, connecting with the Los Padres community, and giving back to the trails. We have you covered from Ojai to Santa Barbara, frontcountry to backcountry. Our busy spring trail work schedule slows down a bit as summer sets in. However, we’ll still be leading projects at the higher elevations of the Los Padres between the heatwaves, so look out for announcements for our Summer 2025 Trail Work Series in the coming weeks. Until then, we hope to see you at one of our National Trails Day celebrations!
LPFA
Join LPFA for National Trails Day!
Epic sunsets on our last overnight Piedra Blanca Trail project in February 2025. Photo, Jeri H.
Piedra Blanca Trail Overnight: June 6 – 8
Join LPFA as we continue maintenance on the Piedra Blanca Trail! We will be leading a 3 day backcountry trail maintenance project June 6 – 8 to finish brushing the final quarter mile of trail before Pine Mountain Lodge Camp. Come out and help us brush this trail, enjoy some epic views of the Sespe Wilderness, and take advantage of the cooler temps at higher elevations this time of year. Click the button below to sign up or get more info!
LPFA Trail Crew admiring the great volunteer work on the North Fork Matilija Working Vacation. Photo, Andrew J.
Matilija Trail: June 7
Join LPFA for a day project to continue our work on the North Fork Matilija Trail! LPFA recently completed a 5-day Working Vacation on this trail, not to mention a year of work leading up to that trip. We are now closing in on getting the trail open to Middle Matilija Camp. RSVP to VOLUNTEER@LPForest.org to get more details and come join the party!
Hot Springs Trail: June 7
Join LPFA and our partners at the City of Santa Barbara Parks Department’s annual National Trails Day event! Volunteers of all experience levels are invited to learn about trail restoration while working on the historic Hot Springs Trail. Tools, instruction, and lunch will be provided! These events are always a blast. See you there….
Forest 411
- The Santa Barbara Ranger District has reopened vehicle access to Red Rock Day Use Area on River Road, as well as to the Divide Peak Staging Area on the Romero-Camuesa Road as of May 23, 2025.
- Welcome to the new Ojai District Ranger, Marshall Alford! We look forward to working with him and the Ojai District to keep trails safe and open for the public to enjoy.
- The public comment period for the Forest Service’s Wildfire Risk Reduction Project is still open. Read up and submit your public comment for the proposed work on Los Padres Forest land.
- CalTrans has announced the North Fork Matilija Creek Bridge Safety Improvement Project on SR-33 in Los Padres National Forest. To accelerate construction and reduce long-term impacts, the project will include four 55-hour full weekend roadway closures. Dates of the closures will be announced soon, but make sure to check in on the status of Highway 33 before heading out to the forest for your weekend adventures!
- Highway 1 south of the Esalen Institute is set to remain closed through the summer as repairs to the Regent’s Slide continue.
- An orphaned 2-month-old black bear cub that was rescued at a Los Padres campground in April is being rehabbed and doing well at the Ramona Wildlife Center!
After two wet winters, we finally hit a dry streak. Most of the water sources across the forest are still flowing, but they’re looking a lot lower now than they were at this point in 2023 and 2024. Make sure to check in on HikeLosPadres.combefore your next backpacking trip to estimate water likelihood, and don’t forget to leave a report for others when you get back!